DEVOTION, January 15, 2021

Paul had encountered Christ on the Damascus Road. After three days of blindness, Paul was healed through the intervention of a follower of Jesus named Ananias. At that moment, Paul’s previous goals for his life began to look like garbage. That’s how he describes his previous life goals. “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage . . .” Later, in this same passage, he declares, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”

Still later he sums up his new goal: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”   Now Paul had only one goal—to serve Jesus Christ.  Wouldn’t it be great to have only one primary goal in life? One goal that you knew in your heart was the purpose God made you for? This is it. You were made to serve Jesus Christ. You were made to live out Jesus’ values and priorities. You were made to do good works that express your love for Jesus.  And if God made you for that purpose, then it is only in serving Jesus Christ that you will find your identity and peace and fulfillment. No other goal will satisfy you.   

Father. I thank You for drawing me to Jesus, my Savior. While I have many goals in life, help me to see that my one primary goal is to serve Him. May my thoughts, words, and deeds bring honor to His holy name. Amen.